M arvelously maritime, Isla Mujeres , or "Women's Isle," received its name from its Spanish discoverers who had encountered numerous female idols of the Mayan Goddess ( Ixchel ). Widely rumored to have later been used by the famed pirate, Jean Lafitte, to sequester women, the island's name was reinforced. Today, the isle, despite its proximity to Cancún, retains the laid-back ambiance of the fisherfolk home it has almost always been.

One can stroll the cobbled streets of its colorful village to visit its: open-air cafés, eateries, shops, piers and especially festive square, and never be more (in most any direction) than a couple of blocks from the isle's palmed white beaches -while t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops remain de rigueur . A night on the town (or beach) is low-key tending toward Mariachi at the often scheduled events in the town's square, and a uniquely danceable combination of: something like: salsa'd rock-and-reggae in the isle's cozy beach-bars and clubs.

Reefs, buffering the isle eastward, teem with coral-life (though strong currents), while its famed North Beach, faces what may very well be the most placid and turquoise waters in the whole of the Caribbean. The balance of the island: its lagoons, strands of barren beach, and impressive southern bluff, can be easily visited by rented bicycles, mopeds and what may be becoming the isle's principle mode of transport: golf carts.

Quaint is the byword -so much so, that Isla has been a favored port-of-call for the Caribbean's live-aboard sailing, and sports-fishing community for years.

For those guests of Venture-Out rendezvousing at the Pier for Isla Mujeres in Cancún's fishermen's suburb of Puerto Juarez , Venture-Out visits Isla Mujeres on its:

• A Swim With the Dolphins Excursion .

For those guests of Venture-Out preferring Isla Mujeres as their vacation base, particularly for the:

• Isla Contoy Maritime Wildlife Excursion ,
• Boca Iglesia Adventure ,

and

• Rio Manatee/Isla Blanca Fly Fishing Excursion

...the (North) Beachside Bungalows of Casa Maya ,
or the slightly upscale (there are no large hotels on Isla )
Hotel Na Balam are highly recommended.